Sadowsky Tokyo is the real deal

Just got this an hour ago. I've been a Fender passive Jazz and P guy for the most part with the occasional new school (American Spector, Lakland).

Primary axe for last 5 years has been Fender RB5.

This Sadowsky Tokyo just killed me. IMO it is every bit as "Sadowsky" as any other. Mind you, I've never owned a NYC Sadowksy, but I've played several, and this RJ5 has the same look, feel and, most importantly, SOUND. It is Roger that I've dealt with the whole time, and he seems to stand behind these 100%. It just so happens to offer some things the NY versions don't (Treble cut, block inlays, bound neck). There is nothing "knockoff" about it.

I've tried the Lakland Skylines, and they just didn't seem to have the playability and feel of the american counterpart. THis one does.

Anyhow...Soooooo cool. Tone galore and that neck. My god that neck.

And a note on the service. For those who currently own, they know. But for those who've never dealt with Sadowsky...Fender has never made contact via email or otherwise in the 20 years I've played 'em. Roger was ringing my cell phone within an hour of my reciept to make sure it came untouched. Enough said.

Goes for $2475 or so. About one grand less than the US. Pretty reasonable from my vantage, but then again...when telling a guitarist buddy how much it was going to cost he was like, "for ash and maple bolt on?"...So it depends on your take.

You have to remember that it's not a mass produced bass like other High End companies imports. These basses are hand built just like the Sadowsky USA basses only in Japan...

...which brings me to my other point. It'smade in Japan, where again, other High End companies imports aren't made. Alot of companied, i.e. Fender, Ibanez, etc, have reduced their manifacture of instruments in favor of other placed like Mexico, Korea, Indonesia, etc where it is ALOT CHEAPER to make an instrument.

Originally posted by Woodchuck Nino: Excellent point. Out of curiosity, do you think that some people would rather get an NY Sad for about $2300 and lower on the used market than one of these at a higher price?

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It all depends on what the buyer is looking for. The Tokyo feels every bit as good as a USA. The workmanship is there, quality of wood & hardware, etc. Aslo, You can't get a USA Sadowsky with Block inlays & binding so if you want that 70's Jazz bass look in a Sadowsky, this is it.

Also, We had a few customers that came into the shop & like the sound of thwe Tokyo Model better than the USA Model. The USA pre-amp is brighter then the warmer Tokyo pre-amp.

I really can't say cause eventually, I'll have a Tokyo 4 or 5 or both & USA 4's & 5's.

Yeah, that's a great lookin' and probably playin'/soundin' bass. BUT...your comment about the "playability" or whatever of the Lakland Skyline Joe Osborn 5 vs american counterpart? Where's that coming from? I bought a new Lake Placid blue JO5 Skyline. It cost a little over 1/3 of your Sadowsky Japan. I can get a retro J preamp installed for another $200 or so. So for about 1/2 I have a really nice active jazz bass 5 with a kick ass B string. Your comparing what is essentially a $1000 bass to a $2500 bass be a Sadowsky Tokyo or a Lakland American Osborn 5. They're not fairly comparable.

I don't feel personally that either of those two basses are double the bass of the Skyline. You need to compare the Skyline with a $1000 Fender Jazz or a MusicMan, or G&L. And even then these basses are all several hundred more than the JO5 Skyline. It's very playable. It sounds great, looks nice, sure it's not finished as in as much detail as any Sadowsky, but it's not supposed to compete with basses that are almost triple the price.

Originally posted by Larry Kaye Yeah, that's a great lookin' and probably playin'/soundin' bass. BUT...your comment about the "playability" or whatever of the Lakland Skyline Joe Osborn 5 vs american counterpart? Where's that coming from? I bought a new Lake Placid blue JO5 Skyline. It cost a little over 1/3 of your Sadowsky Japan. I can get a retro J preamp installed for another $200 or so. So for about 1/2 I have a really nice active jazz bass 5 with a kick ass B string. Your comparing what is essentially a $1000 bass to a $2500 bass be a Sadowsky Tokyo or a Lakland American Osborn 5. They're not fairly comparable.
I owned a SkyLine 55-01 & I currently own a 44-02 DLX. The basses are nice but NO WHERE NEAR AS NICE as a USA Lakland. Not by a long shot.
-When I got the 55-01, thier were over buffing around the edge od the neck bolt holes & the control plate.The volume pot was scratchy.
-The 44-02 looks beautiful!!!! But the black paint in the truss rod adjustment is sloppy, the neck pocket could fit a business card or 2 & the HipShot tuners are crooked. Little thing that mean ALOT. If I were to get this in a USA Lakland, I'd give it back & never buy one again, but it's a SkyLine & it's made in Korea, so I'll take it for what it is.

I don't feel personally that either of those two basses are double the bass of the Skyline. You need to compare the Skyline with a $1000 Fender Jazz or a MusicMan, or G&L. And even then these basses are all several hundred more than the JO5 Skyline. It's very playable. It sounds great, looks nice, sure it's not finished as in as much detail as any Sadowsky, but it's not supposed to compete with basses that are almost triple the price.
If some one likes something & is comfortable ( or not comfortable ) spending any amount of $$$, it's worth it to that person. Some one could reply that his $200 Squier 5 string P bass is the absolute best, & bla, bla, bla & etc, etc & etc & call us all nuts for spending over $500 on a bass.

I'm not intending on arguing about it...I'm making a point that a $2500 bass should have better components, quality, or something to justify it being 2.5 times more expensive than a $1000 bass. I own an F bass BN5 that cost me over $3000. This isn't about comfort in spending xxx amount or yyy amount. I also feel the American Laklands are nicer basses than their Korean brethren. They should be..they cost 2.5 times more. I owned a Deluxe 5594. It was a "nicer" bass in many ways than the JO5 I bought just as you are mentioning. That's not an issue.

The issue to me is what's the point of paying $2500 for something that basically is a slightly better neck, electronics, and setup than pretty much the exact same bass that costs a $1000 less with not better electronics and when a J retro preamp is added to the Skyline JO5 bringing its total to $1200 vs $2500 even that advantage is negated.

I can justify the F bass because it's unique and I love the sound and playability much more than any Lakland I've ever owned (I've owned 4 of them now). What I can't do is justify getting an American Lakland JO5 for instance just to have a little better fit and finish, not for $1500 more.

I might as well chime in on the Lakland thing since I was surprised at the playability comment. I just got a used 55-02 with the uprgraded tuners. A couple of months back I traded my 1999 55-94 Limited that I had owned for three years.

I was extremely surprised at the sound and playability of my Skyline. It plays at least as well as my top of the line US Lakland (actual I think I'd give it the edge) and sounds more aggressive without any harshness. I've owned three Laklands; a 55-01, a 55-02 and the 55-94 Limited. Without question here's how I'd rank them

1. 55-02
2. 55-94
3. 55-01

The fretjob of the -02 is excellent, it came in with the action set very low (like I like it) and plays like a dream. I think not having a pretty top contributes to the sound of the bass, which is killer. Solo the bridge pickup and IMO it does sound like a Stingray, which my Limited didn't. Three very distinct sounds are available with the coil tap. The sound I wanted in my Limited is there in the 55-02.

I didn't buy it with the intention of keeping it but so far it is so nice that's the plan. I got it for $750 with the same G&G HSC the US basses come in.

No one is more suprprised than me. I figured it would be nice but not this nice.

Originally posted by Larry Kaye I'm not intending on arguing about it...I'm making a point that a $2500 bass should have better components, quality, or something to justify it being 2.5 times more expensive than a $1000 bass....
-You haven't seen the Tokyo so you can't comment. The Tokyo has the same HipShots's as the USA unlike the SkyLines. The basses are hand made in the same manner as the USA's, the SkyLines are not. So far, I've personally seen about 15 Tokyo basses & every one has been flawess unlike the 2 Skylines I've owned.

...I own an F bass BN5 that cost me over $3000. This isn't about comfort in spending xxx amount or yyy amount....
-So, you didn't feel comfortable spending $3000 on an instrument you liked?

....I also feel the American Laklands are nicer basses than their Korean brethren. They should be..they cost 2.5 times more. I owned a Deluxe 5594. It was a "nicer" bass in many ways than the JO5 I bought just as you are mentioning. That's not an issue.....
-Yes it is. Just like the USA Lakland is a superior bass to the SkyLine, so is the Sadowsky Tokyo.

...The issue to me is what's the point of paying $2500 for something that basically is a slightly better neck, electronics, and setup than pretty much the exact same bass that costs a $1000 less with not better electronics and when a J retro preamp is added to the Skyline JO5 bringing its total to $1200 vs $2500 even that advantage is negated.
-Again, my point is buy if you like it. If you wanna buy a $1000 Skyline cool, if you wanna but a $2500 Tokyo, cool. If you wanna buy a $3000 F bass cool. If oyu wanna buy a $200 Squier, that's cool too.

I can justify the F bass because it's unique and I love the sound and playability much more than any Lakland I've ever owned (I've owned 4 of them now). What I can't do is justify getting an American Lakland JO5 for instance just to have a little better fit and finish, not for $1500 more.
-I can justify all my Sadowsky purchaces because they are the best basses I've every played (so far), They had the best sound, playability, quality, customer servive, etc. I've played a few F basses @ Jimmy Copollo's shop in NYC & I honestly didn't think thay were anything special. the F bass threads & say how overpriced that are, etc.